Electrically-protected plate and lining for vaults, safes, &amp;c.



v J. P. WILLIAMS. ELEGTBIGALLY PROTECTED PLATE AND LINING FOR VAULTS, SAFES, 6w.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.18, 1909.

961,826, Patented June 21,1910.

m unzw u. GRAHAM ca, PHOTO-MNDRAPMERS WASHINGTON. v.4;

JOHN P. WILLIAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR- TO ELECTRIC- BANK PROTECTION COIl/IPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRICALLY-PBOTECTED PLATE AND LINING FOR VAULTS, SAFES, 860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Protected Plates and Linings for Vaults, Safes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically protected plates and linings for vaults, safes, etc., and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved plate or lining or other structural member for use in vaults, safes, or other protected structures, which will be perfectly protected against an attempt to penetrate or cut into said plate or structural member and against the action of heat or fiame.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved plate or lining or structural member of the character mentioned, in which the thermostatic elements for protection against heat or flame will themselves be protected by elements for causing the operation of an alarm signal if an attempt is made by cutting or penetration to reach or destroy the thermostatic firealarm elements.

My improved electrically protected'plate or lining or structural member is adapted for use in connection with all types of structures to be protected, such as vaults, safes, buildings, etc., and in connection with all types of burglar-alarm systems, for the pur pose of insuring combined protection both as a burglar-alarm and as a fire-alarm, the thermostatic and other elements of the structure being suitably connected up with the signals, bells or other features of the burglar-alarm system, and when employed in connection with a general burglar-alarm system will serve the combined purpose of protection against the attempt to either out into or penetrate the protective structure or to employ heat or flame in an attack upon the same.

My invention and improvements are also adapted for effective use in connection with fire-alarm systems, the thermostatic and other elements of the structure being connected up with suitable signals, alarms or other features of a general fire-alarm system, and when so employed serve the combined purpose of protection against either the ac- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 18, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Serial No. 484,141.

tion of heat or flame or an attempt to cut out or penetrate through and destroy the thermostatic elements.

My invention comprises, in its main features, an electro-thermostatic wire or wires directly associated with plates or gratings or other structural members, with the thermostatic elements and structural members both connected up in alarm circuits, the thermostatic elements being preferably inclosed by the plates or structural members, and it further comprises other improved features of construction and arrangement, substantially as hereinafter described and particularly indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings and following specifications I have illustrated and described my invention and improvements in connection with one type of a general alarm system.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrically protected plates or linings or structural members in circuit connection with the general features of an alarm system. Fig. 2 is a de tail cross-section through the electrically protected plates or linings or structural members and the thermostatic elements. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view, partly broken away, of a portion of the plates or linings or structural members, showing the relative arrangement of the thermostatic elements. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section, correspond ing to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified arrangement of the plates or linings or structural members and the thermostatic elements, and showing the circuit connections of this modified arrangement with the general features of an alarm system.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, P P designate plates, which are adapted to form the inner and outer plates of a lining for the walls of vaults, safes, or other structures to be protected. It will of course be understood that in lieu of plates, herein shown, gratings or other structural members adapted to be embodied in the construction of vaults or safes or buildings to be protected may be employed, and that such structural members may be located either within the walls of the protected structure or at the inside or outside of the same or at any other suitable or desired position. In the form or adaptation of my invention as herein illustrated and described the plates or members P P are separated a suitable distance, and in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 said plates or members are suitably insulated from one another.-

T designates a thermostatic wire, which in the construction herein shown consists of a central wire or conductor 1 inclosed within a surrounding covering or shell of fusing metal, 2, which latter is surrounded by a covering, 3, of any suitable insulating material. and around the insulation 3 is a conductor or wire, 4, which may be a wire suitably wound around the insulation 3, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, or a tubular conductor, as indicated in Fig. 4. When employed in connection with the insulated plates or members P P, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the conductor 4 of the thermostatic wire is in'closed Within and surrounded by a covering, 5, of any suitable insulating material.

It will be understood that the thermostatic wire, in lieu of the construction and arrangement just described, may be of any other suitable or adapted construction, but I preferably employ a construction in which the thermostatic elements embody fusing metal in combination with the electrical conductors and in which the insulating material intervening between the conductors is of a character that will fuse or burn at a low degree of heat and preferably at a degr'ee lower than that which will melt the fusing metal.

The thermostatic wire T is arranged between the separated plates or structural members P P and suitably secured in position with relation thereto, and preferably extends continuously so that it forms a network of wires located over the area of the face of the structural member with which it is associated, as shown in Fig. 3. The thermostatic wire thus arranged is inclosed between and protected by theplates or linings or structural members P P, but it will be understood that under some conditions or circumstances of use the thermostatic wire may be arranged at the outer face of a plate or structural member or at the outer face of a, lining or protected structure constituted by two of such plates or members.

In connecting up the improved electrothermostatic plates or linings or structural members with a general alarm system, as shown in Fig. 1, the conductor 1 of the thermostatic wire is connected direct to the positive side of dry batteries and wet batteries, as shown at 6 and 7 respectively, or to other suitable sources of electrical energ the plate P, which constitutes a conductor, being included as part of the circuit in this connection, as shown. The conductor 1 is also connected to one side of the alarm signals or bells of the system, as shown at 8, and may also be connected to one side of a relay, as at 9, controlling the operation of a mechanical device, as at 10, to which is operatively connected a gong-hammer, as at 11, said signals or bells or mechanicallyoperated hammers being comprised as parts of a general alarm system and located atvarious points as desired. The conductor 4 of the thermostatic wire is connected to one side of another relay, as at 14, the other side of this relay being connected, as at 15, to the negative side of the dry batteries 6 or other.

suitable source of electrical energy. The plate P, which constitutes a conductor, is in connection with the conductor 4, preferably by means of a branch wire or conductor, as at 12. Normally, this last-mentioned relay 14 is in series with the conductor 4'12P on the negative side. When a'short circuit is made between the conductor 1 and the conductor plate or member P"12 or the conductor 4, the last-mentioned relay 14 is energized and makes a permanent connection with the signals or bells, through the positive conductor 1 and through a negative return conductor, 17, said latter conductor 17 being connected to the side of said relay 14 which is normally open, as shown at 0, and which is closed when a short circuit is made between the conductor 1 and the con ductor plate or member P12 or the conductor 4, and the signals or bells are thus operated by the direct connection thus made to the batteries, the conductor 1.7 being connected to the side of the alarm signals or bells which is opposite the connection of the conductor 1.

It will be noted that the conductor 1 carries a positive current from the wet batteries 7 or other suitable source of electrical energy, through the conductor plate P and to the first-mentioned relay 9; and a conductor, as at 16, carries the return negative current from the same source, said conductor 16 being connected to the negative side of the wet batteries 7 and to the side of the relay 9 which is opposite the connection of the conductor 1. Thus, with the current continuously carried by the conduotor 1 and the conductor 16, said first-mentioned relay 9, which controls the operation of the. mechanical gong-hammer device 10-11, retains said device out of operation, but when the circuit is broken in either of said conductors 1 and 16 said relay- 9 is thrown out of circuit and the mechanical gong-hammer device is released and starts its operation, and the operation of the. signals and bells controlled by the conductors 1'P 4-P, 15 and 17 is likewise effected, when a short circuit is established through said last-mentioned conductors as above eX- plained, or by the short circuitestablished in relay 9 upon the releasingof the same.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified arrangement in which the outside insulation 5 of the thermostatic wire T is omitted, and the conductor 4 of the thermostatic wire is in direct contact with the plates or structural members P P and in this arrangement the members P P are not insulated from one another. With this construction and arrangement, the conductor 4 includes the plates P P and the conductor 4P P is connected direct to the positive side of the battery 6, preferably by means of a wire or conductor, as at 18, extending from one of the plates P P to the battery. The plates or members P P are thus of the same potential as the conductor 4, and therefore the conductor 4 and members P P form one side of an electrical circuit, the return wire being the conductor 1 which is surrounded by the fusing metal 2 and connected to one side of the relay 14, and the conductor 15 extending from said relay to the negative side of the battery 6, the connection with the alarm signals or bells of the system being by the conductor 17 extending from the relay 14 to one side of the signal or bell and the conductor 4 extending to the other side of the signal or bell. The action of heat or flame upon the thermostatic elements or plates or members P P will cause the fusing metal 2 to melt and establish a short circuit between the conductors 1 and 4 and thus operate the signals or alarms through the.

batteries and relays and branches which are in connection with said conductors.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

It will be apparent, from the foregoing description, that an attempt upon the electro-thermostatic linings or structural members as comprised in my invention and improvements, either by the action of heat or flame or by an attempt to cut into or penetrate through the elements, will cause the signals and alarms to sound, either by the melting of the fusing element 2 of the thermostatic wire and the establishing thereby of a short circuit between the conductors or by the severing of the conductors or the penetration of the structure, which latter action would bring a penetration tool into contact with both the plates or members P P or other of the conductors which would establish the alarm circuit.

It will be understood that my improved electro-thermostatic lining or structure, combining the thermostatic wire in protective association with the plates or linings or members P P of the protective structure, is adapted for effective operation under any circumstances or conditions where it is desired to protect a structure against either the action of heat or flame or an attempt to cut through or penetrate the structure and in connection with alarm systems working on either open or closed circuits or on both open and closed circuits.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the detail construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and described, as it is' manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms .of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising the plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, in combination with thermostatic elements directly associated with and comprised in said structural members, said members and thermostatic elements being relatively arranged in alarm circuits operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising the plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, in combination with a thermostatic wire directly associated with and comprised in said structural members and arranged over the surface of said plates or members, said members and thermostatic elements being relatively arranged in alarm circuits operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising the plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, in combination with thermostatic elements directly associated with and comprised in said structural members and -mounted between the plates or members,

said members and thermostatic elements be ing relatively arranged in alarm circuits operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising the plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, in combination with a thermostatic wire directly associated with and comprised in said structural members and extending throughout the area between the plates or members, said members and thermostatic elements being relatively arranged in alarm circuits operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising inner and outer plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, said structural members being insulated from one another, in combination with thermostatic elements directly associated with and comprised in said structural members, and an alarm circuit having its terminals connected with said plates or members respectively and connected with said thermostatic elements, whereby the alarm circuit is operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising inner and outer plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, said structural members being insulated from one another, in combination with thermostatic elements directly associated with and comprised in said structural members and arranged in the space between said inner and outer plates or members, and an alarm circuit having its terminals connected with said plates or members respectively and connected with said thermostatic elements, whereby the alarm cir cuit is operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising a plate or structural member of the vault or structure to be protected, said structural member constituting an electrical conductor, and a thermostatic wire directly associated with and comprised in said structural member and arranged over the surface of said plate or member and constituting an electrical conductor, said plate or structural member and said thermostatic wire being relatively arranged in alarm circuits operatable either by varlation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, said structural members constituting an electrical conductor, and a thermostatic wire directly associated with and comprised in said structural members and in connection with the surface of said plates or members, said plates or members and the thermostatic wire being relatively arranged in alarm circuits operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. An electrically protected structure of the class described, for linings or body structures for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising a plate or structural member of the vault or structure to be protected, said structural member constituting an electrical conductor, and thermostatic elements directly associated with and comprised in said structural member and in direct electrical connection with said plate or member and constituting an electrical conductor, said plate or member and the thermostatic elements being relatively arranged in alarm circuits operatable either by variation in the circuit conditions of the conductor parts or by the action of heat or flame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A lining-or body structure for Vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, comprising structural body members of the vault or structure to be protected, said structural members constituting electrical conductors and arranged in alarm circuits operatable by variation in the circuit conditions of said conductors, whereby said body members are protected against cutting or penetration, and thermostatic elements directly associated with and embodied in said lining or structural member and constituting electrical conductors arranged in alarm circuits operatable by the action of heat or flame.

11. A lining or body structure for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, com prising inner and outer plates or structural members of the vault or structure to be protected, said structural members constituting electrical conductors and arranged in alarm circuits operatable by variation in the circuit conditions of said conductors, whereby said structural members are protected against cutting-or penetration, and thermostatic elements directly associated with. and comprised in said structural members and inclosed within and protected by said lining or body structure and in a circuit connection therewith operatable by the action of heat or flame.

12. As an improved article of manufacture, a plate or structural member constituting a lining or body structure for vaults, safes, or structures to be protected, and constituting an electrical conductor for circuit connection, and carrying thermostatic elements directly associated With and comprised in said plate or structural member and constituting an electrical conductor for circuit connection With said plate or structural member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN P. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

L. FREYTAG, O. J. SCHUESSLER. 

